except one person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'except one person' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a group of people who all possess a certain characteristic, with the exception of one. For example, "Everyone in the office was wearing jeans except one person."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Except one person.

The Guardian - Opinion

Everyone, that is, except one person: third umpire Nigel Llong.

The Guardian - Sport

During a show, I asked everyone to get up, and everyone did except one person.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There are no rules, except one person must die every 24 hours or everyone will be killed.

The Guardian

In an address to national television on Thursday, Issoufou called the attempted coup high treason, and said the situation was under control and all the main actors had been arrested – except one person who had fled.

The Guardian

She said all of those who were detained were from Mexico, except one person from Chile, and the group was composed of 36 men, five women and a baby girl.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Some indexes are, of course, broader in coverage; the Japanese index, for example, includes all households, urban or rural, except one-person households and those headed by farmers or fishermen.

Britannica

He tested the desks with a group of more than three hundred volunteers at the Mayo Clinic, all of whom liked them, Levine says, except for one person, but he didn't like working on a computer anyway.

The New Yorker

Everybody in the store was nonwhite, except for one person.

The New Yorker

To play "Hunt the Thimble," have everyone leave the room except for one person.

Princeton University

You knew no one could have made this music except this one person.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except one person", ensure the context clearly identifies the group from which the person is being excluded. For example, 'All members attended the meeting, except one person who was ill'.

Common error

Avoid using "except one person" when the exception is not clearly defined or understood within the context. This can lead to confusion about who is being excluded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except one person" functions as a prepositional phrase used to introduce an exception to a general statement. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is often used to specify a single individual who does not conform to a broader pattern or characteristic.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

15%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except one person" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to denote a singular exception within a group. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's prevalent across diverse contexts, notably in News & Media and Scientific publications. When employing "except one person", ensure the scope of the exception is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include phrases like "excluding one individual" or "with one exception". It's a valuable tool for specifying deviations from general patterns, as showcased by its frequency in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with the exception of one person

A more verbose and formal version of the original phrase.

excluding one individual

Replaces "person" with the more formal "individual".

apart from one person

Uses "apart from" to express the exclusion.

save for one person

Employs "save for", a slightly more literary alternative to "except".

barring one individual

Substitutes "except" with "barring", adding a touch of formality.

excluding a single individual

Emphasizes the singularity of the exclusion.

with one exception

Uses a more general term, focusing on the exception rather than the person.

but for one person

Employs "but for" which is slightly more emphatic.

besides one person

Replaces "except" with "besides", offering a simpler alternative.

leaving out one person

Focuses on the act of omitting someone.

FAQs

How can I use "except one person" in a sentence?

Use "except one person" to indicate that everyone in a group shares a characteristic or performs an action, with a single individual as the exception. For example, "Everyone enjoyed the movie, "except one person" who found it boring".

What are some alternatives to "except one person"?

You can use phrases like "excluding one individual", "with one exception", or "apart from one person" depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it ever incorrect to use "except one person"?

While grammatically correct, "except one person" can be unclear if the context doesn't establish a clear group. Ensure the group is evident to avoid ambiguity.

What's the difference between ""except one person"" and "besides one person"?

"Except one person" directly excludes someone from a group, whereas "besides one person" can sometimes imply inclusion as an addition to the group, though both can be used similarly in many contexts.